The Unrequited Lovers

“And I have made Your name known to them, and will make it known, so that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.” -John 17:26

The only Charlie Brown quote that I remember is this: “Nothing spoils the taste of peanut butter like unrequited love.”

Anyone over the age of 12 has dealt, at least once or thrice, with unrequited love. Since “unrequited” is not a word we use everyday, here is it’s definition: “Unrequited love or one-sided love is love that is not openly reciprocated or understood as such by the beloved. The beloved may not be aware of the admirer's deep and strong romantic affection or consciously reject it.”

No matter how you slice it, unrequited love cuts deep. You can throw much of your heart, passion, energy, and even pocketbook, into it just to have it served back to you. Then, you are left in a puddle of tears, questions and you usually look stupid.

I remember those few times in the past that has happened to me, asking God why. There is nothing like a conversation with Abba to get your thinking off of yourself and to the bigger picture. The constant response from Him to me is always, “How many times have you spoiled the taste of my peanut butter?” Ouch.

He is gentle, kind and a good Father. He loves with an insatiable and passionate love, and so many times it gets served right backed to Him. No matter what we are going through, He always comforts, loves and brings wholeness to a situation. Then, though, comes the lesson. “You cry over that situation because you believe your heart is broken, imagine how My heart aches at the one-sidedness you, many times, offer Me,” He seems to say.

As Matthew 22 tells us, to love God with ALL of our heart, soul and mind is the FIRST and GREATEST commandment. It comes first- not daily life, nor ministry nor entertainment- but love for The Good Father, and everything flows from that in a naturally supernatural kind of way.

He first loved us (1 John 4:19). The only right and good response to the love of The Father is to reflect it right back. “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God,” declares 1 John 3:1! The perfect love of the Father has been and continues to be poured out upon us, HIS CHILDREN, and the only proper response is to love back. Our hearts cry “Abba!”

Oh, to be equally yoked in love with Him! However, as Mike Bickle says, “it takes God to love God.” He loves us with a supernatural love, and we can love Him in kind but only through the help of Holy Spirit. That is why Romans 5:5 states, “…the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” He helps us love Him, thank you Holy Spirit!

That only comes through time in the Secret Place- time in His Presence! So, when He shows up with flowers in the Secret Place, receive them with joy and bask in His Presence. When He surprises you in the middle of the day with a visitation of His Presence, take the time, honor Him and make room. I am my beloved’s and He is mine (Song of Songs 6:3)!

It’s true, one of the worst feelings in the world is unrequited love. “He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him (John 1:11).” Don’t reject the love and sweet Presence of The Father. He deserves it all- to love Him with all of our heart, soul and mind! Let us not have just a Sunday, 11 a.m., Eastern Standard Time relationship! Let’s burn in intimacy- one where the Object of our affection awakens us, the objects of His affection, at 3 a.m. just to steal away.

With the anticipation that you meticulously planned the outing with her, and got just the right flowers, and showed up early- that is the blazing affection He deserves. He first loved us and The Spirit enables us to love back. It’s a supernatural exchange of affection.

Don’t be an unrequited lover. Do you hear Him gently calling? “Come away…”

"Surely Your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever." -Psalm 23:6